Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
Concord
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,493 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($425,800 vs $706,700)
70% less violent crime than Concord
Rent averages $589/mo less ($1,548 vs $2,137)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $14,493/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$14,493
$107,789 vs $93,296/yr
Meridian
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
70% lower
146.8 vs 484.6 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$281k less
$425,800 vs $706,700
Meridian
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.9% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Concord wins 6 and Meridian wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Concord to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $425,800 median home), income ($107,789 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Meridian, ID are about 487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.